Sliced food package



Nov. 3, 1959 M. E. GRIEM SLICED FOOD PACKAGE Filed Sept. 3, 1957 45 v i I (L M '1 0%1 g INVENTOR. .227. I

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O SLICED FOOD PACKAGE Milton E. Griem, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Milprint,

Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application September 3, 1957, Serial No. 681,740

Claims. (Cl. 99-171) The present invention relates generally to improvements in the art of packaging, and relates more particularly to improvements in the construction and use of packages for protectively confining sliced bacon and other sliced food products.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved package for a sliced food product which is extremely simple in construction, economical in use, and highly efficient in protectively confining sliced food products for merchandising purposes.

In packaging bacon, sliced luncheon meats, cheese and other sliced food products, it is common practice to arrange the slices in parallel overlapping relation and in given quantities within a protective wrapper or package. To provide a package of desired rigidity, it is generally the practice to arrange the slices in overlapping condition on a cardboard or paperboard tray or backing sheet, and to permit the purchaser to view the product and select a sliced commodity of his or her choice, a transparent overwrap is ordinarily utilized.

Since the arrangement of the slices in overlapping conditionna turally results in an assembled mass having a central longitudinal portion of substantially greater thick- 'ness than the marginal side edge portions of the mass, considerable difiiculty has heretofore been experienced in efforts to package the product in an attractive manner so that the commodity may be displayed to best advantage while being snugly confined at alltimes within the 'wrapper. Furthermore, while it is highly advantageous to wrap the product in a transparent wrapper sheet so as to permit the ultimate consumer to view the contents, the exposure of the sliced commodity to light for prolonged periods does have some deleterious elfects on the product. Also, in order to gain access to the packaged commodity, the protective wrapper sheet must be removed by the consumer, and once removed, the commodity is freely exposed to the elements and is subject to rapid deterioration.

It is therefore a more specific object of my invention to provide an improved sliced commodity merchandising package which obviates all of the objections and disadvantages hereinabove set forth.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide an improved contour package for a sliced food product 'which requires a minimum of paperboard or cardboard stock as well as a minimum of Wrapper material and which may moreover be readily produced in quantity with utmost economy to the ultimate consumer.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved merchandising package for a sliced commodity wherein a backing board of novel construction is provided which is adapted to automatically conform to the contour of the assembled slices packaged therein to "provide an assemblage which is exceptionally neat and {attractive in appearance while providing utmost protection for the packaged commodity.

1 -Still another specific object of my present invention is to which, when folded to one position and overwrapped with a transparent wrapper, presents a merchandising package wherein the commodity is visible to the maximum extent thereby permitting careful inspection of the product, and which, when folded to another position after removal of the overwrap, provides a storage pack or container in which the product is confined between panels of the supporting sheet or folder to thereby protect the contents to a maximum degree.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide a unique and novel package for merchandising sliced bacon while providing for maximum product visibility from both sides of the package, the package being capable of assembly and wrapping with the aid of commercially available equipment and being exceptionally compact in final form for attractive display of the product while utilizing a minimum of display area.

An additional specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved package for a sliced commodity comprising, a normally flat sheet of relatively stiff but flexible material scored inwardly from two opposed marginal edges thereof for its full extent to provide opposed integral flaps, the sheet also being transversely severed medially thereof from one of the flap forming score lines to the other and being merely scored beyond the line of severance across both of the flaps tordivide the same into opposed commodity receiving panels which are integrally united only by the flaps, and a plurality of commodity slices arranged on each of the panels in edge overlapping condition to present a mass tapering in thickness toward the opposed flap forming score lines with the flaps being folded over the adjacent slices. and the commodity receiving panels being distendable to two positions, namely one in which the panels lie immediately adjacent to each other with the commodity being visible from opposite sides of the package and the other in 'which the commodity lies in face-to-face relation between the panels which form a protective cover therefor. These and other specific objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the features constituting my present improvement, and of the mode of utilizing the invention in a typical sliced bacon package, may be had adjacent bacon slices being broken away to reveal normal- I 1y hidden structure; and

Fig. 3 is another perspective view of the package with the wrapper removed and the bacon retaining board or backing sheet being folded to its second position wherein the bacon strips are concealed and protectively confined between panels.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as being particularly applicable to the packaging of sliced bacon stacked or assembled in a manner whereby the mass assumes a shape tapering substantially uniformly from a relatively thick medial portion to thin marginal edge portion and with the bacon strips cut substantially in half, it is not desired or intended to thereby unnecessarily restrict or limit the improvement by reason of -such specific embodiment; and it is furthermore contemplated that certain specific descriptive terms used herein shall be given the broadest possible interpretation c0nsistent with the disclosure.

Referring to the drawing, the typical package'shown therein as embodying the invention comprises, in general, a bacon receiving and retaining board formed of cardboard or paperboard scored inwardly from opposed marginaledges as at 6, 7 to provide opposed integral flaps 8, 9 respectively and also being. transversely severed as at H from one of the flap forming score lines 6- to the other score line 7 to thereby divide the sheet into opposed commodity receiving panels 11, 12, the flaps 6, 7 being preferably scored in alinement with and beyond the line of severance 19 to thereby provide integral hinges 13, 14 about which the panels 11, 12 may be folded as will be hereinafter more fully described. The panels 11, 1'12 form a backing board or tray upon which the bacon slices 16 or other sliced commodity may be arranged in edge overlapping condition to normally present a mass tapering in thickness toward the opposed flap forming score lines 6, and while the bacon slices 16 in the instant case have been shown as being cut or severed along the line 17 either before or after being placed on the board to thereby provide half slices, it is apparent that the commodity receiving board 5 may be made of such a size as to permit reception of full slices on each of the panels 11, 12. With the bacon slices 16 thus arranged on the panels 11, 12 of the board 5, the flaps 3, 9 are folded downwardly over the adjacent bacon slices as shown in Fig. 2 and the commodity receiving and retaining panels 11, 12 are folded about the hinge lines 13, 14 upon themselves with the commodity exposed from both sides of the package or folder, and a protective wrapper sheet 13, preferably of transparent material, is placed about the assemblage and sealed in usual fashion to thereby provide a merchandising package as shown in Fig. 1.

As indicated, the commodity tray or receiving board 5 may be formed of any suitable sheet material such as cardboard or paperboard having sufficient rigidity to satisfactoril support the slices 16 while possessing suificient flexibility to permit flexing and distension thereof, and the flaps 8, 9 may be formed of any desired width and may be supplied with printing or the like advertising or describing the product, recipes for use, manufacturer, or the like. The score lines 6, 7 and 13, 14 may, of course, be formed in a well known manner so as to provide predetermined lines along which the sheet 5 may be folded as shown, and the line of severance 17 is preferably located centrally between opposite ends of the board 5 and may also be formed in a known manner with the aid of commercially available cutting tools or equipment. The panels 11, 12 are obviously integrally united by the flaps 8, 9 which contain the score lines 13, 14 respectively providing hinges about which the panels may be swung; and

to compensate for the stock along the hinges 13, 14 during folding of the unit to one or the other of the positions of the panels as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the end portions of the severance line it? are preferably cut away to widen the same as at 19, 20 for the width of the flaps 8, 9 respectively as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. In other words, the end portions at 1%, 20 of the line of severance are somewhat wider than the medial portion thereof for a distance inwardly from the respective flap-forming score lines 6, 7 approximately equal to the width of the respective flaps 8, 9 The blanks 5 may be readily formed in a rapid manner with the aid of automatic cutting and scoring equipment, and these blanks are furnished to the packer in normally fiat condition.

In utilizing the blanks 5 in the packaging of sliced commodities such as bacon, desired quantities of the sliced commodity are first stacked as already described on each of the panels 11, 12 while the blank 5 is supported in flat condition and the flaps 8, 9 are then folded over the adjacent slices as shown in Fig. 2. The blank is then folded. about the hinge lines 13, 14 with the panels 11, 12 in back-to-back relation with the sliced commodity exposed to both sides of the package as shown in Fig. 1 and the protective wrapper 18 may then be applied in a customary manner with the aid of commercially available wrapping equipment to thereby form the final merchandising package.

When the commodity is being dispensed by the ultimate consumer, the wrapper 18 is removed and the desired number of slices may then be dispensed. Since the wrapper sheet 18 is destroyed in this process, the commodity slices are normally exposed to the atmosphere, but with the improved package, the board 5 may be folded about the hinges 13, 14 in a reverse direction with the commodity slices in face-to-face relation and with the panels 11, 12 protectively enclosing the same as shown in Fig. 3. In this condition, the commodity is not only protected by the panels 11, 12 but the remaining slices in the package are in face-to-face contact and drying out of the product is thereby minimized. The package may then be stored in the refrigerator or other storage space and may obviously be readily reopened from time to time for dispensation of additional quantities of the product.

From the foregoing detailed description, it is believed apparent that the present invention contemplates the provision of an improved sliced commodity package which is extremely simple in construction and highly efiicient in protectively confining commodities such as sliced bacon and other food products. The final packages are extremely compact in size and may be displayed to excellent advantage on shelves and in refrigerated cabinets in a minimum of display space, and additionally, the amount of paperboard or cardboard utilized is reduced to a minimum without loss of effectiveness. Also, the double thickness of the board when the panels 11, 12 are in face-to-face relationship provides a rigid support for the sliced commodity, and when the panels 11, 12 are reversed so as to cover the commodity, they are sufficiently flexible to readily conform to the shape of the mass confined therebetween. It is apparent that the paperboard from which the blank 5 is formed may be suitably treated, and the flaps 8, 9 as well as the panels 11, 12 may be provided with any desired printed indicia. Also, while the slit 10 has been shown as being cutaway at 19, 20 to provide clearance for the hinges 13, 14, these clearance portions need not necessarily be provided except to form a neater final package, and if provided, they may assume various shapes.

It is, of course, not intended or desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use herein shown and described, since various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A package of sliced food comprising, a normally flat sheet of relatively stiif but flexible material, said sheet being scored inwardly from two opposed marginal edges thereof for its full extent to provide opposed integral flaps, and said sheet also being transversely severed medially thereof from one of said flap forming score lines to the other and being scored beyond the line of severance across both of said flaps to divide the same into opposed panels integrally united by said flaps, and a plurality of food slices arranged on each of said panels, the flaps being folded over the adjacent food slices with said panels being distendable to two positions, one in which the panels lie immediately adjacent to each other with the food slices being visible from opposite sides of the package and the other in which the food slices lie in face-to-face relation between said panels which form a protective cover therefor.

2. A package of sliced food comprising, a normally flat sheet of relatively stiff but flexible material, said sheet being scored inwardly from and parallel with two opposed marginal edges thereof for its full extent to provide opposed integral flaps, and said sheet also. being transversely severed medially thereof from one of said flap forming score. lines to the other but being merely scored beyond the line of severance across both of said flaps to divide the same into similar opposed panels integrally united only by said flaps, and a plurality of food slices arranged on each of said panels, the flaps being folded over the adjacent food slices with said panels being distendable to two positions, one in which the panels lie immediately adjacent to each other with the food slices being visible from Opposite sides of the package and the other in which the food slices lie in face-to-face relation between said panels which form a protective cover therefor.

3. A package of sliced food comprising, a normally flat sheet of relatively stiff but flexible material, said sheet being scored inwardly from two opposed marginal edges thereof for its full extent to provide opposed integral flaps, and said sheet also being transversely severed medially thereof from one of said flap forming score lines to the other but being merely scored beyond the line of severance across both of said flaps to divide the same into similar opposed panels integrally hingedly united by said flaps, the end portions of said line of severance being somewhat wider than the medial portion thereof for a distance inwardly from the respective flap-forming score lines approximately equal to the width of the respective flaps, and a plurality of food slices arranged on each of said panels, the flaps being folded over the adjacent food slices with said panels being distendable to two positions, one in which the panels lie immediately adjacent to each other with the food slices being visible from opposite sides of the package and the other in which the food slices lie in face-to-face relation between said panels which form a protective cover therefor.

4. A package of sliced food comprising, a normally flat sheet of relatively stiff but flexible material, said sheet being scored inwardly from two opposed marginal edges thereof for its full extent to provide opposed integral flaps, and said sheet also being transversely severed medially thereof from one of said flap forming score lines to the other but being merely scored beyond the line of severance across both of said flaps to divide the same into opposed commodity receiving panels integrally united by said flaps, a plurality of food slices arranged on each of said panels, the flaps being folded over the adjacent food slices with said commodity receiving panels being distended to a position in which the panels lie immediately adjacent to each other with the food slices being visible from opposite sides of the package, and a transparent flexible wrapper sheet covering said package to protectively confine the food slices, said panels being reversely distendable to a position in which the food slices lie in face-to-face relation therebetween upon removal of said wrapper sheet.

5. A package of sliced food comprising, a normally flat sheet of relatively stiff but flexible material, said sheet being scored inwardly from two opposed marginal edges thereof for its full extent to provide opposed integral flaps, and said sheet also being transversely severed medially thereof from one of said flap-forming score lines to the other and being scored beyond the line of severance across both of said flaps to divide the same into' opposed panels integrally united by said flaps, a batch of food slices arranged on each of said panels, said flaps being folded over the edge portions of the respective batches with said panels being distendable to two positions, one in which the panels lie immediately adjacent to each other with the batches of food slices thereon being visible from opposite sides of the package and the other in which the batches lie in face-to-face relation between said panels which form a protective cover therefor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,465,841 BOnni Mar. 29, 1949 2,565,976 Mayer et a1. Aug. 28, 1951 2,596,514 Uehlein May 13, 1952 2,714,557 Mahaffy Aug. 2, 1955 2,753,107 Ringler July 3, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES The National Provisioner, November 27, 1954, p. 16. 

1. A PACKAGE OF SLICED FOOD COMPRISING A NORMALLY BEING SCORED INWARDLY FROM TWO OPPOSED MARGINAL EDGES THEREOF FOR ITS FULL EXTENT TO PROVIDE OPPOSED INTEGRAL FLAPS, AND SAID SHEET ALSO BEING TRANSVERSELY SEVERED MEDIALLY THEREOF FROM ONE OF SAID FLAP FORMING SCORE LINES TO THE OTHER AND BEING SCORED BEYOND THE LINE OF SEVERANCE ACROSS BOTH OF SAID FLAPS TO DIVIDE THE SAME INTO OPPOSED PANELS INTEGRALLY UNITED BY SAID FLAPS, AND A PLURALITY OF FOOD SLICES ARRANGED ON EACH OF SAID PANELS, THE FLAPS BEING FOLDED OVER THE ADJACENT FOOD SLICES WITH SAID PANELS BEING DISTENDABLE TO TWO POSITIONS, ONE IN WHICH THE PANELS LIE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER WITH THE FOOD SLICES BEING VISIBLE FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PACKAGE AND THE OTHER IN WHICH THE FOOD SLICES LIE IN FACE-TO-FACE RELATION BETWEEN SAID PANELS WHICH FORM A PROTECTIVE COVER THEREFOR. 